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Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa, right, discusses legislation he and Democratic Rep. John Garamendi, left, proposed to study the cost of building a reservoir in the Sites Valley during a news conference near Maxwell on March 19. The congressmen are proposing an amendment to the House this week which would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission conduct an additional safety review of the Oroville Dam. – Rich Pedroncelli — The Associated Press

Washington D.C. >> Reps. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, and Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, Monday introduced to a bill that would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to conduct an additional environmental review of the Oroville Dam.

The congressmen would like to see a review done before the commission approves the relicensing of the dam under state Department of Water Resources’ management.

Garamendi is advocating for another environmental review since the Oroville Dam has undergone major structural changes in the aftermath of February’s crisis, sending over 180,000 downstream residents fleeing from their homes, he stated in a press release.

The amendment would allow additional time for FERC to review safety and environmental concerns raised by local communities, including sediment accumulation in the Feather River and other potential downstream impacts.

“The safety and environmental impact of the Oroville Dam is clearly an immediate concern for my constituents,” Garamendi said. “After this year’s frightening events, the federal government owes it to local residents and the entire state to conduct a thorough review before issuing a new operating license.”

Assemblyman James Gallagher, R-Yuba City, state Sen. Jim Nielsen, R-Red Bluff, and the Oroville Dam Coalition have also asked that the relicensing be delayed. They want the commission to wait until the independent forensic team releases its findings and affected parties have time to review the findings. That report is expected to be released this month.

Risa Johnson covers local politics in Butte County and the city of Oroville for the Chico Enterprise-Record and Oroville Mercury-Register newspapers. Since February 2017, she has written extensively about the Oroville Dam crisis. She is a proud alumna of Chico State University. Reach her at 530-896-7763.